U.S. patent number 5,579,378 [Application Number 08/533,167] was granted by the patent office on 1996-11-26 for medical monitoring system.
Invention is credited to Frank H. Arlinghaus, Jr..
United States Patent |
5,579,378 |
Arlinghaus, Jr. |
November 26, 1996 |
**Please see images for:
( Certificate of Correction ) ** |
Medical monitoring system
Abstract
A medical monitoring system which includes at least one patient
medical monitoring apparatus for monitoring at least one aspect of
a patient's physical condition and generating at least one variable
signal in response to the monitoring. The system includes at least
one station distributor electrically connected to the at least one
patient medical monitoring apparatus and to a first end of a
telephone line. A system distributor is electrically connected to a
second end of a telephone line and to at least one system
monitoring apparatus. The at least one station distributor receives
each of the at least one variable signals and generates an
information signal therefrom. The information signal is transmitted
to the system distributor where monitoring information contained
within the information signal is retrieved and distributed to the
at least one system monitoring apparatus without interrupting
normal telephone operation.
Inventors: |
Arlinghaus, Jr.; Frank H.
(Rumson, NJ) |
Family
ID: |
24124780 |
Appl.
No.: |
08/533,167 |
Filed: |
September 25, 1995 |
Related U.S. Patent Documents
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Application
Number |
Filing Date |
Patent Number |
Issue Date |
|
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111630 |
Aug 25, 1993 |
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Current U.S.
Class: |
379/106.02;
128/904; 379/90.01 |
Current CPC
Class: |
H04L
29/12009 (20130101); H04L 61/00 (20130101); H04M
11/002 (20130101); H04L 67/00 (20130101); G16H
40/67 (20180101); H04L 69/329 (20130101); A61B
5/002 (20130101); A61B 5/0022 (20130101); Y10S
128/904 (20130101) |
Current International
Class: |
A61B
5/00 (20060101); H04M 11/00 (20060101); H04M
011/00 () |
Field of
Search: |
;379/38,45,49,42,52,106,107,102,104,93,97-99 ;128/670,904 ;395/500
;364/413.02 |
References Cited
[Referenced By]
U.S. Patent Documents
Primary Examiner: Chan; Wing F.
Attorney, Agent or Firm: Hoffmann & Baron
Parent Case Text
BACKGROUND OF THE INVENTION
This is a continuation-in-part of application Ser. No. 08/111,630,
filed on Aug. 25, 1993, now abandoned.
Claims
I claim:
1. A medical monitoring system, comprising:
at least one patient medical monitoring apparatus for monitoring at
least one aspect of a patient's physical condition and generating
at least one real-time variable signal in response thereto;
at least one station distributing means electrically connected to
said at least one patient medical monitoring apparatus, the station
distributing means being electrically coupled to a first end of a
telephone line;
a system distributing means electrically connected to a second end
of said telephone line; and
at least one system monitoring apparatus electrically connected to
said system distributing means;
wherein said at least one station distributing means receives each
of said at least one variable signal, and generates an information
signal therefrom, the station distributing means including means
for encoding the information signal to include routing information
therein and means for modulating the encoded information signal to
a frequency outside an audio base-band, wherein said station
distributing means transmits the encoded information signal over
said telephone line to said system distributing means, wherein the
system distributing means includes a means for sorting,
prioritizing and directing the information signal based upon the
routing information contained therein, the system distributing
means directing the information contained therein to said at least
one system monitoring apparatus, whereby transmission of said
information signal does not affect normal telephone operation.
2. A medical monitoring system as defined by claim 1, wherein said
variable signal is a continuous variable signal.
3. A medical monitoring system as defined by claim 1, wherein said
at least one station distributing means includes means for
modulating said at least one variable signal to form said
information signal, and wherein said system distributing means
includes means to demodulate said information signal into separate
signal components.
4. A medical monitoring system as defined by claim 1, further
comprising at least one telephone electrically connected to said at
least one station distributing means for normal telephone
communication.
5. A medical monitoring system as defined by claim 1, wherein the
sorting, prioritizing and directing means comprises a programmed
data card further comprising at least one telephone electrically
connected to the system distributing means for normal telephone
communication.
6. A medical monitoring system as defined by claim 1, wherein said
encoding means comprises a keyboard or the like.
7. A medical monitoring system as defined by claim 1, wherein said
system monitoring apparatus includes one of a data display, a
microcomputer with display, a facsimile device, a modem and a
memory device.
8. A medical monitoring system as defined by claim 1, wherein the
information signal includes a plurality of components, and further
wherein the system distributing means can selectively direct each
of the components of the information signal to any of a plurality
of system monitoring apparatus.
9. A method of monitoring a patient's condition, comprising the
steps of:
applying at least one medical monitoring device to the patient;
generating a monitoring signal from the at least one medical
monitoring device;
generating a routing signal from a user input device;
combining the monitoring signal and routing signal in a station
distributing means to form a mixed information signal;
modulating the mixed information signal to a frequency outside the
audio baseband;
transmitting the mixed information signal over an existing
telephone line to a system distribution means;
receiving the mixed information signal by the system distributing
means;
sorting, prioritizing and directing the mixed information signal
based upon the routing information contained therein to at least
one system monitoring apparatus; and
displaying the mixed information signal at the at least one system
monitoring apparatus to provide real-time monitoring information to
a remote location, and wherein normal telephone operation is not
interrupted during transmission of the mixed information signal at
the frequency outside the audio baseband.
10. A method as defined by claim 9, further comprising the steps
of:
converting the mixed information signal received by the system
distributing means into an in audio baseband signal; and
transmitting the audio in baseband mixed information signal via a
telephone network to a remote system monitoring apparatus.
11. A method as defined by claim 9, wherein the step of sorting,
prioritizing and directing includes selectively directing any
number of monitoring signals to any of a plurality of system
monitoring apparatus.
12. A medical monitoring system for use within a hospital setting,
comprising:
at least one patient medical monitoring apparatus for monitoring at
least one aspect of a patient's physical condition and generating
at least one real-time variable signal in response thereto;
at least one station distributing means having an input
electrically connected to said at least one patient medical
monitoring apparatus, the station distributing means having an
output being electrically coupled to a first end of a telephone
line;
a system distributing means having an input electrically connected
to a second end of said telephone line; and
at least one system monitoring apparatus electrically connected to
an output of said system distributing means;
wherein said at least one station distributing means receives each
of said at least one variable signals and generates an information
signal therefrom, the station distributing means including means
for modulating the information signal to a frequency outside an
audio baseband, wherein said station distributing means transmits
the modulated information signal over said telephone line to said
system distributing means, wherein the system distributing means
includes a means for detecting and demodulating the information
signal, the system distributing means further including
preprogrammed directing means for directing the information
contained therein to said at least one system monitoring apparatus,
whereby transmission of said information signal does not affect
normal telephone operation.
13. A medical monitoring system as defined by claim 12, wherein a
plurality of medical monitoring apparatus each form a component of
the information signal and wherein the preprogrammed directing
means of the system distributing means is capable of selectively
directing each component of the information signal to any of a
plurality of system monitoring apparatus.
14. A medical monitoring system as defined by claim 13, wherein the
preprogrammed directing means of the system distributing means is a
data card.
15. A medical monitoring system as defined by claim 12, wherein the
station distributing means further comprises a means for encoding
the information signal to include routing information for directing
the information signal to any of the at least one system monitoring
apparatus.
16. A medical monitoring system as defined by claim 15, wherein the
routing information is in the form of one of a four digit, seven
digit and ten digit code.
17. A medical monitoring system as defined by claim 16, wherein the
four digit code directs the information signal to a system
monitoring apparatus within the hospital; and wherein the seven and
ten digit codes direct the information signal to a telephone
switching system for transmission to a system monitoring device
either locally outside or a long distance from the hospital,
respectively.
18. A medical monitoring system as defined by claim 12, further
comprising at least one telephone electrically connected to said at
least one station distributing means for normal telephone
communication.
19. A medical monitoring system as defined by claim 12, wherein the
system monitoring apparatus includes one of a data display, a
microcomputer with a display, a facsimile device, a modem and a
memory device.
20. A medical monitoring system as defined by claim 12, wherein the
detecting means recognizes only out of audio baseband signals and
is transparent to normal telephone communication signals.
Description
The present invention relates to medical monitoring, and more
particularly relates to a system to continuously, or at operator
discretion, monitor information provided by at least one patient
medical monitoring apparatus using an active telephone line.
Medical monitoring systems known to date monitor at least some
aspect of a patient's physical condition and generate monitoring
information therefrom. The medical monitoring information may be a
continuous signal, such as that generated by a heart rate or
respiratory rate monitor or a signal delivered at deliberate
intervals to provide active patient monitoring. In many
circumstances, medical monitoring efficiency is improved by
monitoring information from one or multiple medical monitoring
apparatus and providing the pooled information to a central
location for disseminating the same. Accordingly, electrical wires
or cables are required to electrically couple the pooled monitoring
information from the medical monitoring apparatus to the central
location.
Extending electrical wires or cables from a medical monitoring
apparatus to a central location creates several problems which are
particularly troublesome in treatment centers such as a hospital.
Multiple electrical wires and cables consume valuable space for
conduits which is at a premium in most hospital settings.
Electrical wires and cables, therefore, must be positioned to avoid
interfering with hospital staff and patient administration.
Substantial cost is incurred in cable installation and
reinstallation to accomplish cable positioning to avoid or minimize
such interference. Problems of crosstalk, i.e., erroneous signals
induced in closely positioned electrical wires and cables, may also
arise when routing and grouping multiple wires or cables.
Several attempts have been made to utilize existing telephone lines
to minimize the amount of electrical wire and cabling required for
information transfer. For example, U.S. Pat. No. 4,838,275
discloses a home medical surveillance system for monitoring a
patient's condition and transmitting signals indicating the same to
a central monitoring location via a telephone line. The system
utilizes an apparatus to convert data from medical monitoring
devices for transmission via a modem over a telephone line to a
control office. Data may also be transmitted from the control
office to the medical devices via the same telephone line. Each
control office within the system, however, requires a dedicated
data line for data communication and a dedicated voice line for
voice communication, that is, two separate telephone lines for
communication.
Outside of the medical field, several signal transmission and
surveillance systems use existing telephone lines to minimize the
number of electrical wires and cabling inherent for use in
monitoring one or more surveillance apparatus. For example, U.S.
Pat. No. 3,872,253 to Jurschak discloses a monitoring system which
utilizes a system user's telephone line. The system includes a user
unit at the user's location that transmits a modulating current
signal defining the status of an event to a central monitoring
location during normal telephone operation. The central monitoring
location receives the modulating current signal from the user unit
where it is 180.degree. phase-shifted and retransmitted onto the
telephone line canceling the effect of the modulating current
signal. The absence/presence of the modulating signal corresponds
to an alarm/no alarm condition. The system is incapable of
transferring sophisticated communication information, such as would
be required with respect to a plurality of medical monitoring
apparatus which may be connected to a patient. Furthermore, there
is no teaching in this reference for multiple point transmission of
data over existing telephone lines.
U.S. Pat. No. 4,528,422 also discloses a monitoring system which
uses existing telephone lines. The system includes at least one
device for monitoring local conditions and transmitting signal
information indicating the same through a balanced modem via
telephone ring and tip lines to a processing station. The balanced
modem provides a frequency shift keyed digital signal with balanced
phase and amplitude whereby the signal on the ring line cancels the
signal on the tip line at a receiving telephone. Each processing
station may be coupled via telephone lines to a central station
which monitors all processing stations within the system. Although
signal transmission is transparent to telephone users, the balanced
modem may load the telephone lines, creating a 3 dB drop in voice
signal level.
U.S. Pat. No. 4,531,527 to Reinhold discloses a medical monitoring
system which includes a patient unit for monitoring a patient. The
monitored information is transmitted via an existing telephone line
to a physician's office using a modem. The patient unit is used to
record the monitored information. The recorded information is
transmitted to the physician's office by the modem for analysis by
the physician. The Reinhold patent does not discuss a system for
the input of multiple signals from a plurality of bedsides for
transmission over existing telephone lines to a distributing means
so that the information may be distributed to any number of a
specific system monitoring apparatus.
U.S. Pat. No. 4,741,022 discloses a monitoring system utilizing
existing telephone lines. Monitoring units located at user premises
transmit frequency shift keyed (FSK) signals below the audible
frequency range via a telephone line to a central control unit
(CCU). Each FSK signal indicates to the CCU that the monitoring
units are in a no alarm state, transparent to a telephone user. A
problem arises, however, if an alarm condition occurs. During an
alarm condition, the CCU detects a break in the FSK signal
transmitted from a monitoring unit. The CCU responds by
interrogating the monitoring unit in the audible frequency range.
This is regardless of whether or not the subscribers phone line is
in use (i.e., off-hook operation), interrupting conversation.
It is therefore an object of the present invention to provide a
medical monitoring system which uses existing telephone lines to
transmit continuous medical monitoring information to a monitoring
station without interrupting or interfering with normal telephone
operation.
It is another object of the present invention to provide a medical
monitoring system that uses existing telephone lines to transmit
continuous medical monitoring information generated by a plurality
of medical monitoring apparatus without interrupting or interfering
with normal telephone operation.
It is still another object of the present invention to provide a
medical monitoring system that uses an existing telephone line to
transmit continuous medical monitoring information to a monitoring
station thereby avoiding the need for installing electrical wires
and cabling to transmit the same.
It is yet another object of the present invention to provide a
medical monitoring system in which information from a plurality of
medical monitors which are monitoring a patient's condition can be
encoded and transmitted via pre-existing telephone lines to a
system distributing network capable of decoding the .encoded signal
and directing the signals to any of a plurality of system
monitoring apparatus.
SUMMARY OF THE INVENTION
The present invention, which addresses the needs of the prior art,
provides a system for communicating medical monitoring information
over existing telephone lines without interrupting normal telephone
operation. The system consists of a combination of several elements
including at least one patient medical monitoring apparatus which
continuously, or at operator discretion, monitors at least one
aspect of physical condition of a patient and generates a variable
output signal representing the condition. The patient medical
monitoring apparatus is electrically connected to at least one
station distributing means which is connected to a first end of a
telephone line.
The medical monitoring system also includes a system distributing
means electrically connected to a second end of the telephone line
and at least one system monitoring apparatus electrically connected
to the system distributing means via another telephone line. The at
least one station distributing means receives each of the at least
one variable signal and generates an information signal therefrom.
The information signal also includes operator input routing
information to provide a destination for the medical monitoring
information. The composite information signal is then transmitted
at a frequency outside the audio baseband to the system
distributing means over the pre-existing telephone line where
monitoring information contained within the information signal is
distributed to the at least one system monitoring apparatus without
interrupting normal telephone operation.
The at least one station distributing means within the medical
monitoring system may include means for modulating the at least one
variable signal thereby forming the information signal. The system
distributing means may include means for demodulating the
information signal and forming separate signal components.
The system distributing means may also receive input data from a
user or system monitoring device, modulating the data to form a
data signal and transmitting the same to the station distributing
means, the station distributing means including means for
demodulating the data signal and retrieving the data therefrom and
distributing the data. The station distributing means may include
means for receiving user input, modulating the user input to form
an input signal and transmitting the same to the system
distributing means. It follows that the system distributing means
includes means for demodulating the input signal to retrieve the
user input and distributing the same. In this manner, a system user
monitoring a physical condition of a patient at a central location
not only receives but may provide input for use by the medical
monitoring apparatus establishing two-way continuous communication
via the existing telephone line. The system distributing means also
includes means for sorting, prioritizing and directing the
information signal based upon the frequency or routing information
contained herein.
As a result of the process and apparatus of the present invention,
medical monitoring may now be performed without the inconvenience
of extending additional wires or cables between a medical
monitoring apparatus and system monitoring means, i.e.,
pre-existing telephone lines are used. Medical monitoring
information may now be transferred two ways over existing telephone
lines without disturbing normal telephone communication occurring
thereon. Because of the unique process by which the medical
monitoring system transmits medical monitoring information over an
existing telephone line, multiple medical monitoring apparatus can
transmit multiple signals over the telephone line in lieu of
dedicated electrical wires or cables resulting in considerable
savings of time and money.
BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE DRAWINGS
FIG. 1 is a block diagram of a medical monitoring system of the
present invention.
FIG. 2 is a block diagram of another embodiment of the medical
monitoring system of the present invention.
FIG. 3 is spectrum analysis plot showing several possible frequency
locations of monitoring signal components within a mixed signal of
the present invention.
FIG. 4 is a detailed block diagram of a station distributing means
of the present invention.
FIG. 5 is a detailed block diagram of a system distributing means
of the present invention.
DETAILED DESCRIPTION OF THE INVENTION
One embodiment of a medical monitoring system 10 of the present
invention is shown in FIG. 1. The medical monitoring system 10
includes four medical monitoring apparatus 12, 14, 16, 18,
designated A, B, C, and D, respectively. Each medical monitoring
apparatus is electrically connected to receiver ports 22, 24, 26
and 28 of a station distributing means 20. Each medical monitoring
apparatus continuously monitors at least one aspect of a patient's
physical condition and generates a variable signal representing the
monitored condition. The variable signal may or may not be
continuous. It should be noted that the medical monitoring system
10 is not limited to four monitoring apparatus as shown in FIG. 1,
but may be customized to accommodate from one to a great many
medical monitoring apparatus.
The station distributing means 20 receives the variable signals
from each medical monitoring apparatus A, B, C, D and modulates
each variable signal to a distinct frequency preferably outside of
the audio base band. The station monitoring means may perform
modulation of the variable signal using any known frequency
modulation means to modulate the signal to a frequency beyond the
audio baseband. More specifically, the station distributing means
20 combines each modulated signal corresponding to the output of
each medical monitoring apparatus and generates a mixed signal in
response thereto. The mixed signal is dispatched from transmission
port 34 of the station distributing means 20 to a first end of a
pre-existing telephone line 40.
A telephone 32, normally directly connected to telephone line 40
through a phone jack (not shown), may be electrically connected to
a first end of telephone line 40 through station distributing means
20. The station distributing means includes a receptacle (not
shown) that functions as a phone jack for electrical connection to
the telephone. Because the variable signal components generated
within each medical monitoring apparatus are modulated outside the
audio baseband, normal telephone communication is not disturbed by
the transmission of medical monitoring information over the
pre-existing telephone line.
A keyboard 36 or other means for inputting data for transmission
may be also electrically connected to the station distributing
means 20. The keyboard or other means allows a user to insert user
information within the mixed signal, such as routing information or
source identifying signals. The routing information enables the
operator to encode the mixed signal for routing by the system
distributing means to a specified system monitoring apparatus. The
routing information may be inputted to encode all information
provided by medical monitoring apparatus to a station distributing
means to be routed to a single system monitoring apparatus, or, in
the alternative, may encode, for example, all heart rate monitors
to be directed to a central location. Furthermore, the routing
information may include a phone number so that any portion of the
mixed signal may be routed to any location, including, for example,
a doctor's office who cannot be present at a patient's bedside or
at the hospital. Thus, the system would be compatible both within a
hospital setting, and also outside the hospital setting, for
example, to transmit medical monitoring information from a
patient's home to a doctor's office. Lastly, the routing
information will enable the medical monitoring apparatus of the
present invention to have multiple targets for the information
contained in the mixed signal formed by the station monitoring
means. The source identifying signals may be used to identify a
specific medical monitoring apparatus which identifying signal may
also be used to direct the information therefrom. For example, the
system distributing means may be programmed to direct all heart
monitor information from a plurality of station monitoring means to
a central observation station. As with the variable signal
components, the user information is modulated by a carrier
frequency outside the audio frequency range.
A system distributing means 50 is electrically connected to a
second end of telephone line 40 through a port 52. In a preferred
embodiment, the system distributing means 50 is connected in
parallel to a telephone switching system 55 as a private branch
exchange (PBX) of a hospital telephone system. The telephone
switching system 55 is in turn connected to a telephone central
office for routing of outgoing calls either locally or long
distance. System distributing means 50 receives the mixed
information signal transmitted from each station distributing means
20, and demodulates the mixed signal into its signal components,
including the routing information and medical monitoring
information. The system distributing means 50 then separates and
distributes the demodulated mixed signal components in accordance
with the routing information contained therein. Additional station
distributing means may be coupled through telephone lines 42, 44
connected to the system distributing means 50, at, for example,
ports 54 and 56, respectively. The system distributing means is, in
effect, a hybrid telephone switching system.
Two system monitoring devices 72 and 70, designated as X and Y,
respectively, are electrically connected to output ports 58, 60 of
system distributing means 50, respectively, via pre-existing
telephone lines 57, 59. The demodulated mixed signal components may
be distributed by system distributing means 50 to either or both
system monitoring devices 70 and 72 depending upon the routing
information or source identifying signal. The monitoring
information contained within each signal component may be displayed
by each system monitoring apparatus or may be processed further
therein. The system monitoring devices, 70, 72 may comprise any
means known to those skilled in the art for receiving and
displaying or processing of continuous medical monitoring
information. For example, a display, a microcomputer with a
display, a facsimile device, and an information storage or data
processing device may receive and display such medical monitoring
information.
At least one telephone 64 may be electrically connected to
telephone line 59 through system monitoring apparatus 70. It is
possible to have a telephone located at each system monitoring
apparatus station as shown in FIG. 2. A keyboard 66, or other data
inputting means, may be electrically connected to system
distributing means 50 to input data thereto. System distributing
means 50 modulates the data thereby forming a data signal. The data
signal may then be distributed to one or all station monitoring
apparatus 12, 14, 16 and 18 over telephone line 40. Station
distributing means 20 demodulates the data signal and distributes
the demodulated data signal components to any or all of medical
monitoring apparatus A, B, C and D.
The medical monitoring system 10 of the present invention is ideal
for use in a hospital environment. For example, hospital wings
directed towards specific treatments of particular maladies, such
as a cardiac care unit, at times require many of the same medical
monitoring apparatus for treating multiple patients in multiple
hospital rooms. Particularly within a cardiac care unit, each
patient under care will be monitored by multiple cardiac medical
monitoring devices. To employ a separate electrical cable between
each medical monitoring apparatus and central monitoring location
would amount to a considerable financial burden, in addition to the
valuable hospital space required to route each cable. Utilizing the
telephone lines of an existing communication system already in
place within the hospital or hospital wing in lieu of installing a
new separate cable for each monitoring apparatus results in
considerable savings.
FIG. 2 shows another embodiment of a medical monitoring system 78
of the present invention. The medical monitoring system 78 is
incorporated within a telephone system present within a wing of a
hospital allowing the use of existing telephone lines 81, 83, 85,
87, 88, 91 and 93. The medical monitoring system 78 includes seven
hospital rooms 80, 82, 84, 86, 88, 90 and 92, each containing a
station distributing means 20, to which is connected a plurality of
medical monitoring apparatus 12, 14, 16, 18, and a telephone 36
(FIG. 1). Accordingly there are seven medical monitoring apparatus
A, seven medical monitoring apparatus B, seven medical monitoring
apparatus C and seven medical monitoring apparatus distributed
throughout each the seven hospital rooms.
Data in the form of a variable monitoring signals is generated
within each of these four separate type medical monitoring
apparatus A, B, C, D. The variable monitoring signals are
transferred to each of the seven station distributing means 20
within each hospital room 80, 82, 84, 86, 88, 90 and 92. Each
station distributing means 20 modulates each variable monitoring
signal it receives and combines the modulated signal components to
form a mixed signal therefrom. The mixed signal further includes an
operator input routing signal and/or source identifier. The routing
signal and/or source identifier may be input to the station
monitoring means 20 via a keyboard 36. The mixed signal is
transmitted via existing telephone lines 81, 83, 85, 87, 89, 91 and
93 to a system distributing means 50 which is connected in parallel
to a telephone switching system 55 within the hospital which
services the telephones in each of the seven hospital rooms. As
shown in FIG. 1, the telephone switching system is connected to a
telephone central office 65 for outgoing calls as well as to
telephones 102, 103, 104, 105 connected through the system
monitoring devices. Telephone voice communication from/to
telephones coupled to each of the station distributing means or
system monitoring devices may be present on the telephone lines
without being interrupted or interfered with by the mixed signals
which are carried over the telephone lines outside the audio range.
More specifically, the transmission of the information over the
pre-existing telephone lines is designed so that it does not create
an off-hook situation. The only off-hook situation is created by
actual use of the telephones by patients and/or visitors making
normal telephone calls. In this way, normal telephone operation
continues uninterrupted regardless of the transmission of medical
information over the telephone line from a station distributing
means to a system distributing means.
As discussed above, the system distributing means 50 demodulates
each mixed signal received from each station distributing means 20.
Components of the demodulated mixed signal are separated and based
upon the routing and/or source identifying information within the
mixed signal, the mixed signal components are selectively
distributed to each or any of four system monitoring apparatus, 94,
96, 98 and 100, designated A, B, C, D, respectively. System
monitoring devices A, B, C, D correspond to each medical monitoring
apparatus A, B, C, D. In one particular distribution scenario, the
component signals received from each of the seven medical
monitoring apparatus A at each of the seven hospital rooms are
distributed by system distributing means 50 to system monitoring
apparatus 94 (designated A in FIG. 2) based upon a specific routing
signal provided by the operator at the station monitoring means.
System monitoring apparatus A receives each of the seven component
signals for either display or further processing.
Similarly, if the routing signal input by the operator so
designates, the system distributing means 50 distributes each of
the seven component signals generated within each of medical
monitor apparatus B, C and D, respectively, at each of the seven
hospital rooms to system monitoring apparatus 96, 98 and 100,
respectively (designated B, C and D in FIG. 2). Each system
monitoring device A, B, C, D may therefore monitor the condition of
seven patients present within each of the seven hospital rooms
concurrently, using the existing telephone lines. The continuous
medical monitoring system 78 of the present invention avoids the
need for locating seven corresponding sets of four electrical wires
or cables corresponding to A, B, C, D between the seven hospital
rooms and the four system monitoring devices. Alternatively, the
medical information may be distributed such that all monitoring
information from a particular room may be provided to a single
central system monitoring device. In this way, several of a
patient's physical parameters may be monitored by a doctor at a
single remote location, i.e., an office within the hospital or an
office outside the hospital setting. Thus, the medical monitoring
information is capable of being selectively distributed in any
combination of ways to multiple targets, i.e., system monitoring
devices, located in a variety of places.
FIG. 3 shows a spectrum analysis plot of a typical mixed signal
which may be generated within a station distributing means 20 of
the present invention. The audio baseband is designated in FIG. 3
as well as spectral lines A, B, C and D. The audio baseband
corresponds to that frequency bandwidth containing frequencies
audible by the human ear. In one particular embodiment, spectral
lines A, B, C, D correspond to the frequencies of the modulated
components resulting from the modulation of the variable monitoring
signals generated within medical monitoring apparatus A, B, C, D.
Because each of the four spectral lines (i.e., frequencies)
corresponding to the four variable monitoring signals extend beyond
the audio baseband, their presence on a telephone line will be
transparent to a telephone user. Furthermore, as noted above, since
the spectral lines for the monitoring apparatus are shown at
different frequencies, it is possible to separate and distribute
the components of the mixed signal based upon the varying
frequencies to any number of system monitoring devices.
In an alternative embodiment, the mixed signal may be formed as a
digital signal for transmission over a preexisting telephone line.
The digital signal may be formed from the medical monitoring
apparatus in the form of binary digits in the station distributing
means by an analog-to-digital converter. The monitoring information
is preferably encoded with a binary code to distinguish each
monitoring apparatus from one another. This digital signal
transmission is especially well suited for use with an Integrated
Services Digital Network (ISDN). Should the digital information be
transmitted to conventional analog receivers, it will be necessary
to convert the digital bit stream to an analog signal using a
digital-to-analog converter.
The encoded digital mixed signal formed by the station monitoring
means is received at the system distributing means via a
pre-existing telephone line. The system distributing means can
separate the components of the mixed signal based upon the encoded
information which forms a part of the monitoring apparatus signal,
so that the system distributing means can route the separated
components of the mixed signal to the desired system monitoring
apparatus.
FIG. 4 shows a schematic block diagram of one embodiment of a
station distributing means 20 of the present invention. Each
variable monitoring signal generated within each medical monitoring
apparatus A, B, C, D is electrically coupled to a receiving circuit
112 within station distributing means 20 through ports 110, 111,
113 and 115, respectively. Receiving circuit 112 directs the
variable monitoring signals to an amplifier circuit 114, where the
signals are adjusted to proper signal levels. The adjusted
monitoring signals are then passed to a balanced modulator 118 for
modulation by a local oscillator 116. The modulated output, i.e.,
the mixed information signal, is then provided to driver 120.
Driver 120 amplifies the mixed signal's power level as needed
before the mixed signal is transmitted over a telephone line.
FIG. 4 also shows a telephone 36 electrically connected at port 108
to station distributing means 20. The voice communication signal
generated within telephone 36 may be transferred through the
receiving circuit for output directly onto the telephone line via
port 122. Port 109 is designated to receive data input from a
computer, a keyboard or other data inputting device 117. The data
input device 117 may also be used to encode the mixed signal to
provide routing and source identity information, such as a
telephone exchange or a code corresponding to a specific system
monitoring apparatus location. Alternatively, the data input device
may be used to provide data to a system monitoring apparatus (72,
70 of FIG. 1). Once data is input to the station distributing means
20, the data is modulated and incorporated within the mixed
information signal for transmission. System distributing means 50
(FIG. 1) demodulates and retrieves the modulated data signal
component from the mixed information signal and directs the
components to its appropriate destination.
FIG. 5 shows a block diagram of one embodiment of a system
distributing means 50 of the present invention. System distributing
means 50 receives input from telephone lines or data input devices
through input jacks (not shown) at any of even numbered ports
140-156. Ports 144, 146, 148, and 150 are electrically connected
via existing telephone lines to four station distributing means 20
(FIG. 2) for receiving mixed information signals therefrom. Also,
normal telephone signals may be received by the system distribution
means 50 for normal routing through a telephone switching system.
These signals are permitted to pass transparently through the
system distribution means without interruption via lines 40', 42'
and 44' to the telephone switching system 55. Port 140 may receive
data input from a keyboard or other user initiated data inputting
device.
All mixed information signals received within system distributing
means 50 are first processed at receiving circuit 160. More
specifically, the system distributing means is preferably a
parallel connected apparatus with the telephone switching system
55, which is in turn coupled to a telephone central office. The
parallel connections of the telephone lines is shown in FIG. 5 as
reference numeral 167. For example, in a hospital setting, the
hospital building may include a central switching system, such as a
Private Branch Exchange (PBX) for analog signals or an Integrated
Services Digital Network (ISDN) for a digital signal telephone
network.
As previously noted, the system distributing means 50 includes a
receiving circuit 160. In the case of a hospital setting, the
telephone lines coupled to the station distributing means converge
at the central telephone switching system. The system distributing
means is parallel connected to the incoming telephone lines near
the central telephone switching system. The receiving circuit 160,
which receives all the information from each of the station
distributing means, includes a data card which is pre-programmed to
process, prioritize and direct the components of the mixed signals
based upon the routing information contained therein.
For example, the routing information contained in the mixed signal
from a plurality of station distributing means may provide that all
the information be directed to a central system monitoring
apparatus located within the hospital. Such routing information may
be in the form of a four digit telephone number to direct the
information to a system monitoring apparatus coupled to a telephone
jack within the hospital. Alternatively, the routing information
may include a telephone exchange, i.e., a seven digit code, such
that the system distributing means converts the information to an
in-base band signal which is provided to the telephone switching
system for transmission to a central office, and ultimately to be
received by a local outside system monitoring apparatus.
Alternatively, the signal may be directed to a Private Automatic
Branch Exchange (PABX) for routing to a system monitoring apparatus
located outside the hospital setting, e.g., a doctor's office. The
routing information may also be a ten digit code to provide the
medical monitoring information over a long distance phone line to a
remote system monitoring apparatus. It should be noted that the
duplicate connections from the telephone switching system and
system distributing means in the telephone lines coupled to the
system monitoring devices may not be required. For example, should
all information be sorted and then distributed by a telephone
exchange, the information could be provided to the system
monitoring of these devices via the telephone switching network. On
the other hand, those of ordinary skill in the art may find it
useful to have the duplicate connections so that the system
distributing means provides the output signals to the system
monitoring apparatus.
The telephone switching system and data card shall be configured to
allow normal telephone usage during the transmission of the mixed
signal from the station monitoring means to the system monitoring
means. More specifically, the patient will still be able to make
and receive telephone calls, uninterrupted by the information
signal which is transmitted outside the audio base-band. This is
possible since transmission of data does not provide an off-hook
situation. Only usage of the telephone distribution means produces
an off-hook situation. The usage of the telephone also does not
affect the transmission of the medical monitoring information.
In one embodiment, the data card is programmed to monitor all
signals being sent to a central telephone switching system for
detection of any out of audio base-band signals. Upon detection of
the signals, the system distributing means is capable of sorting
these signals, decoding routing information, and directing the
signals to an appropriate system monitoring apparatus. Data cards
of this nature are well known within the telephone industry, and
those skilled in the art will recognize that the data card may be
easily programmed to accomplish the functions described above.
Referring to FIG. 5, the receiving circuit 160 distributes the
signals to an amplifier circuit 162. Amplifier circuit 162 adjusts
the levels of the received signals and transfers the same to a
balanced modulator 165. The mixed signals are demodulated, if
required, within balanced modulator 165 using signals generated by
local oscillator 164. As previously discussed, signal components
which have been separated from the mixed signals are distributed as
provided by the routing information via driver 166 to the
appropriate system monitoring apparatus 169, 171, processing device
173, or telephone central office electrically coupled through ports
168, 170, 172, and 174 respectively.
Internally, an electrical connection is provided within system
distributing means 50 from driver 166 back to receiving circuit
160. The electrical connection transfers a data signal, formed by
modulating data input via port 140 for transfer to receiver circuit
160. Receiver circuit 160 routes the modulated data signal over an
appropriate telephone line or lines to the appropriate station
distributing means 20. Accordingly, two-way communication of
medical monitoring and user information may be implemented using
existing telephone lines without interrupting normal telephone
communication on the telephone line.
It should be noted that the specific embodiments of the medical
monitoring system identified in this disclosure may be replaced by
other means without materially affecting the invention to transmit
information over an existing telephone line without disturbing
telephone communications thereon. The invention accordingly is not
limited to the precise embodiments disclosed, and various other
changes and modifications may be affected therein by one skilled in
the art without departing from the scope or spirit of the
invention.
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